Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-07-28
EichmOnd's Tobacco Trade.
For tho Dispatch


july %, 1897.
Saturdays &tctc contained timely re-
marks in regard to our tobacco trade.
Suggestions Of like kind, however, have
been repeatedly made, and, moreover,
approved of, but no definite action has
been yet taken TO induce direct trade
between planters of the bright section
Of Virginia and North Carolina with
this market. The reason is this: Tee
moment the subject is opened for dis
cussion there are always those apa-
thetic and self-cOntonted who want no
stir or no attempt Ut new issues, who
say let well enough alone, etc. There
is another class, who argue that We get
the trade ultimately anyhow from the
dealers who buy direct in the uplands
or interior markets, and this is more
convenient and better for the Richmond
merchants. There is another still
weaker class, who contend that we
could not get the trade direct from the
planters if we wanted it or tried, aud
these cite few spasmodic efforts OF
individuals IA few years back who made
a comparative failure in their efforts in
this direction. However this may be,
this point remains against Richmond,
and can be and should be remedied.
Our buyers don't remain at home to
buy; they send money and credit to
numerous other places to build them
up at the expense of this city. This
should be stopped and the trade drawn
here by direct shipments, whether from
planters or rehandleIs, the more direct
the better, as the product would be thus
the nearer prime cost, and this would
insure and secure the outside orders
that now go to many smaller markets.
We had best have one big, steady,
reliable, central, and pivotal market
than many weaker, smaller ones doing
business only part of the year. The
shippers would also prefer their chances
of a profit on their purchases on their
| own account to mere commission as
agents for others. Our buyers, in turn,
would rather see what they buy at
home than to buy through agents.
Both can regulate their purchases and
sales on moments notice. There are
few, it is believed, in the upland mar
kcts who do not prefer taking their
own risk on their own purchases rather
than buy as mere agents for others,
and when one is both agent and his
own buyer he can't serve two masters
equally well. There are firms in the
trade doing fine western business
in this city who get most of their to-
bacco directly from tho planters or
local packers, and from West Virginia
the trade is altogether direct as to Rich
mond from the planter, or nearly so,
and it has been for years very salts
factory to all parties concerned. No,
if Richmond dealers and manufacturers
concertedly make up their minds to buy
here preferably at all times, and will
keep their orders at home, they would
build up home and none the less in
crease the prosperity of the present
shippers and the many planters who
would send their crops direct to big,
strong. and always active market.
And if our own people did this,
their duty, for home at home,
the many northern, western, and for
eign orders would be sent here as for
nerly. And who denies but We have
los. this trade by our own carelessness
or negligence There is nothing gain
ed in the long run by our buyers CON-
peiing among themselves against other
orders and trade in outside markets.
Bring the stuff here, and let it be sold
and handled here. 1t makes business
for us all, and does not diminish that
OF any other place in the aggregate.
VIII our tobacco people ever take
joint action on this question ?
DIAMOND w.